Wrist & hand decisions — 2026

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection for left knee disability, bilateral CTS, and bilateral foot condition must be remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the onset of these conditions during active duty or periods of inactive duty training.

The Veteran's bilateral wrist sprain, left thumb paresthesias, and a bilateral elbow disability are all granted. The skin disability is also granted with a specific rating of 60 percent prior to January 16, 2016.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for right wrist scars has been withdrawn. The claim of entitlement to a higher rating for his right wrist disability, including on an extraschedular basis, is denied. The issue of TDIU is remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, a lumbar disorder, a cervical disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety, depression, PTSD), a bilateral foot disorder, and carpal tunnel syndrome (right upper extremity) based on new and material evidence. The cases are now remanded to determine if these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.,The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, a lumbar disorder, a cervical disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety, depression, PTSD), and a bilateral foot disorder based on new and material evidence. The cases are now remanded to determine if these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings and separate ratings for neuralgia and neuritis for her service-connected carpal tunnel syndrome was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of mild, moderate, or severe incomplete paralysis of the median nerve, which would warrant higher disability ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, coronary artery disease, hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's disease, and carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist. The conditions are all found to be related to the Veteran's in-service exposure to toxic substances at Redstone Arsenal.

The appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed.,Entitlement to a disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent for left foot great toe metatarsal trauma was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate due to his ability to perform most activities of daily living independently despite some limitations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error, requiring additional development and consideration of his claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including consideration of separate ratings for right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome and related conditions such as neuralgia or neuritis.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral wrist disability, finding that her current diagnosis of De Quervain tenosynovitis is not related to an in-service injury or disease and is not caused by or aggravated by her service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Board has found that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of bilateral eye disability and left arm disability, including as secondary to a left wrist disability. The remand includes obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to the need to discount the beneficial effects of use of pain medications when rating the Veteran's musculoskeletal disabilities due to Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and left ankle tendinitis on appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for a left hip condition but denied service connection for a left wrist condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions of the upper and lower extremities, including skull fractures, right elbow condition, left elbow condition, right arm condition, left arm condition, right wrist condition, left wrist condition, left hip condition, right leg condition, right hand condition, left hand condition, and right foot condition have all been denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or a relationship to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with effective dates of April 1, 2019.,Service-connected conditions include left and right wrist arthritis, hand conditions, back condition, lower extremity radiculopathy, OSA, and RLS.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding the proposed reduction of his disability ratings for right and left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome from 20 percent to 10 percent, finding that the AOJ's actions were not jurisdictional.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss disability, carpal tunnel syndrome of the right and left upper extremities, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are all denied.,The Board found that there is no current evidence of a hearing loss disability meeting VA criteria. The Veteran had normal hearing at entry to service but later developed impacted cerumen which obscured her ability to be tested for hearing loss.,For carpal tunnel syndrome, the Board determined that there was no onset during service and no compensable manifestation within one year after separation from service. There is also no evidence linking current symptoms to in-service events or diseases.,Regarding an acquired psychiatric disorder, the Board concluded that there were no signs or findings of a psychiatric condition during service. The Veteran's military records indicate she was rated highly and had good relationships with her peers.